Compare these two plz

and I needed to make a business card for them, so i just asked
the local printer to design the bcard with 'Cinematic Verite and Modern' theme.

What they came up with was **removed**

And I thought it sucked so i redesigned

**EDIT** the one you're seeing is designed by the OP. Front and back. The one designed by the local printer has been removed because posting another designer's work for critique is not allowed **EDIT**

I showed both works to the owners of the hotel and
they all liked the 1st one ( from the local printer ) better!!

What do you guys think?
Am I missing something?

I was going to print the card (2nd one) on silk 16pt with rounded corners.

Last edited by Yossarian; 04-27-2011, 08:39 PM.
Reason: remove other designer's work

Looking at the two together makes me think I'm looking at a front and back. And that may be what they are picking up on; that your design feels like the back of the card.

Yours is a great design; clean, simple, modern. But it's missing that focal point that a logo can provide, as in the 1st design. Maybe yours could include that logo, or a variation of it (enlarged and bleeding off the sides, possibly).

I think I would choose that 1st design also, and simply for that fact alone. Yours is not a bad design, however.

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I'm not a fan the scrolly, poofy, luxury look that hotels always seem to embrace, but hey, I'm not a hotel owner. Also, if that's their logo, I can understand why they want to use it — despite it's scrolly, poofyness.

Maybe you can combine them somehow. Center the text on the grey one and drop in the logo above the type — maybe. Make an executive version of the card (just for the hotel management to use) where the logo is foil embossed, and they'll love it.

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Edit: Okay, based on what Craig B said, never mind. I might suggest that the mods write an explanation for these things when they change something. I know they usually do, but in cases like this, it seems necessary.

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I am web/graphic manager...and I needed to make a business card for them, so i just asked
the local printer to design the bcard with 'Cinematic Verite and Modern' theme...And I thought it sucked so i redesigned...I showed both works to the owners of the hotel and they all liked the 1st one ( from the local printer ) better!!

Firstly, if you are the graphic manager, why would you ask someone else to do your work? Secondly, if the client likes the printers card, maybe they both know something about design that you do not.

If I were the hotel owners, I'd hire the printers and say goodbye to you. Harsh, but true right?

I know the other design has been removed, but why did you post it anyway? Were you hoping for confirmation that one of them sucked more than the other? Does it matter what we think as long as the client is happy? No.

It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like"What about lunch?"– Winnie the Pooh

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I'd consider using the same serif font for the hotel name on the gray side of the card as you've used in combination with the logo. The sans text, minus the space in between, plus half the name bolded makes it look like 2 different cards.

Also, and you may have already planned on this, use a gray pantone color around the reversed out text. A screen of black will make it difficult to read. And like someone else mentioned a hint of the logo on the gray side, like enlarged and a slightly different shade might be nice.

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Never show a deciding party a design you are not personally a fan of. That way there is never a chance of them picking it.

For that matter, they'll almost always pick the ugly one.

Along similar lines, always leave something trivial on the best one not quite finished or with an obvious decision to be made. That way, you can ask the client something like, "Let's see, I couldn't decide whether to put hyphens or periods in your phone number. What do you think?" This gets them sidetracked onto an inconsequential bit of trivia while quenching their need to meddle with what you've done. Then, of course, whether they choose the hyphen or the period, always say, "Yes, that's perfect now. Great idea. Thanks!"